Expect some ground-breaking all-new engines from Infiniti to debut as early as late next year with the replacement for the QX50 mid-size SUV (not currently sold in Australia).

According to British media, the new family of petrol engines will use variable compression ratio technology, expected to be a world-first, to deliver V6-like performance but with substantially less fuel consumption.

Refinement levels are also said to be impressive – a ‘not-negotiable’ for premium vehicles.

Also on the ‘To-Do’ list for Infiniti engineers ahead of the QX50’s launch are even higher levels of driver assistance technology – Infiniti says this and a shift to autonomous driving will feature on all models as we count-down the end of the decade.

Naturally this far out, Infiniti isn’t saying anything official but TMR understands the all-new QX50 will launch in international markets late next year or early 2018.

Similarly, Infiniti Australia is also not ‘on-the-record’ about the possibility of the all-new QX50 heading this way.

While the QX50 is not currently included in the Australian lineup, there is plenty of interest in premium mid-size SUVs and a legitimate rival for the Lexus NX would be a logical next step for Infiniti to slot in between the exitsing large QX70 and QX80 and upcoming compact QX30 crossover.